Causeway: Border Reach Arts Project / Cork Community Art Link

	CASE STUDIES >

Case Studies and Examples

"Working with the community group was great fun. I enjoyed it a lot. When I got there I thought it was going to be hard to get along with everybody but everybody was so kind and caring that the first day we met them we got on like a house on fire straight away"

Border Reach Arts Project / Cork Community Art Link

This exchange between arts groups in Northern Ireland and Ireland focussed on the significant issues lof conflict resolution and engendering cultural understanding. This particular exchange was set up by the two partner organisations with a view to using an artistic and creative process to explore these sensitive issues of culture and identity.

As a result, the ability to create a skills exchange based programme seemed to have produced a highly successful result for all participants concerned. Border Reach Arts project (based in Strabane) specialises in drama and its Youth Centre is actively involved in Young People's Theatre. Their partner organisation, Cork Community Arts Link, specialises in costume and prop making, hence a marriage of like interests furthered the vast enjoyment that participants from both groups experienced.

"Working as a group was a major plus for the group as we learnt new skills in 'Art Link' and learned how to listen to everyone's views. Communication was the key to success - 1 lesson learned"

The youth participants active involvement in the organisation of the project had proven to be particularly effective, as all elements of the programme schedule went swimmingly well, in addition to the fact that all members of both teams gelled from the very start.

Of particular note, the involvement in the St Patricks Day Parade in Cork was a high point for both teams. Working in conjunction in a relatively short period of time, the teams worked well together to produce costumes and an aesthetic display that gave them the honour of being awarded 'Most entertaining, Most Dynamic, Best Live Action' and 'Overall Winner of Parade', a clear indication that, in this instance, a solid connection had been developed between North and South.

Border Arts returned to Strabane with a full report on their activities. As with all exchange programmes, the ability to develop participants as spokesmen for their peers and their generation had been firmly achieved in this project. The parade, having been filmed for national media was a further plus. Participants returned with greater confidence, especially regarding their artistic scope and ability.

Graph

- back to top